What is the GST/HST Quick Method of accounting?

The Quick Method is a CRA-approved election for small businesses with annual taxable revenue under $400,000. Instead of tracking every GST/HST expense and claiming input tax credits, you remit a flat percentage of your total tax-included revenue. The rate is set below the actual GST/HST rate you charge clients, so you keep the difference.

What are the Quick Method remittance rates by province in Canada?

Quick Method rates vary by province tax type. Ontario (13% HST): 8.8% services, 4.4% goods. Nova Scotia (14% HST): 8.8% services, 4.4% goods. New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island (15% HST): 10% services, 5% goods. Alberta, Yukon, NWT, Nunavut (5% GST only): 3.6% services, 1.8% goods. British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec (5% GST + provincial tax): 3.6% services, 1.8% goods on the GST portion only.

Who qualifies for the CRA Quick Method?

Most GST/HST registrants with annual taxable revenue under $400,000 qualify. The following are ineligible and must use the Regular Method: accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers, notaries, financial advisors, actuaries, and certain other regulated professionals.

How do I elect the Quick Method of accounting?

File Form GST74 (Election and Revocation of an Election to Use the Quick Method of Accounting) with CRA before the first day of the reporting period you want it to apply to. File online through My Business Account at canada.ca. Once elected, you must remain on Quick Method for at least one full fiscal year before switching back to the Regular Method.

What is the 1% annual credit for Quick Method filers?

CRA allows Quick Method filers to deduct 1% of the first $30,000 of tax-included annual revenue from their remittance. The maximum credit is $300 per fiscal year. This credit applies once per year regardless of how many quarterly or monthly returns you file.

When is the Regular Method better than the Quick Method?

The Regular Method saves money when your actual GST/HST input tax credits (ITCs) from business expenses exceed the Quick Method savings. Your breakeven ITC equals: tax collected minus Quick Method net remittance. If your business expenses generate more ITCs than this amount, the Regular Method costs less — but requires tracking every receipt.

GST/HST Remittance Calculator

Quick Method vs. Regular — which saves you more? Enter your revenue, province, and business expenses to see your CRA remittance under both methods side by side.

Your Details

Province / Territory

Revenue this period (before tax)

What you invoiced or earned, not including the tax you charged on top.

GST/HST paid on business expenses

Total GST/HST on your business receipts — subscriptions, supplies, equipment. Used for Regular Method ITC calculation.

Business type

Services — consulting, freelancing, coaching, virtual workGoods / Retail — reselling, handmade products (inventory ≥ 40% of costs)

Not sure? If most of what you do is a service, pick Services.

Apply the 1% annual credit— CRA lets Quick Method filers deduct 1% of the first $30,000 of tax-included revenue each fiscal year (up to $300). Uncheck if you've already used it this year.

Fill in your details above to see the side-by-side comparison

Which remittance method should you use?

⚡ Quick Method is better when…

✓You're a freelancer, consultant, or service provider
✓Your business expenses are mostly payroll, rent, or non-taxable items
✓You want a flat remittance with no receipt tracking
✓Your annual taxable revenue is under $400,000

📋 Regular Method is better when…

✓You have significant GST/HST-taxable business expenses
✓You purchase goods for resale and inventory is a major cost
✓Your ITC claims consistently exceed the Quick Method savings
✓You're an accountant, lawyer, or financial advisor (ineligible for QM)

To switch to Quick Method:

File Form GST74 with CRA before the first day of the reporting period you want it to apply to. You can file through My Business Account online. Once elected, you must stay on Quick Method for at least one full year before switching back.

CRA guide: RC4058 — Quick Method of Accounting for GST/HST ↗

How the Quick Method works

Instead of tracking every GST/HST expense and subtracting input tax credits, you multiply your total revenue including the tax you charged by a flat remittance rate set by CRA. The rate is always less than the actual GST/HST rate — so you keep the difference.

You still charge your clients the full GST or HST rate. The Quick Method only changes what you send to CRA — not what your clients pay.

Most GST/HST registrants with under $400,000 in taxable revenue qualify. Exceptions include accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers, financial advisors, and actuaries — they must use the Regular Method.

Marketplace sellers: if you sell on eBay or Amazon, the marketplace already remits GST/HST on your behalf for those sales. If you sell on Etsy and have added your GST number to your account, Etsy stops remitting and you remit directly — your Etsy revenue counts toward this calculation.

Related tools

📊

$30K Threshold Predictor

Find out when you need to register for GST/HST

📖

Quick Method vs Regular — Full Guide

In-depth comparison with examples for Canadian sole proprietors

By province

Each province has different GST/HST rates and rules. Select yours for province-specific Quick Method rates, notes, and calculator.

Newfoundland & Labrador

NorthOS handles this automatically

Connect your bank or upload receipts and NorthOS tracks your GST/HST remittance every quarter — Quick Method or Regular — so you always know exactly what to send CRA.

Try NorthOS free

This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Rates are based on CRA's published Quick Method remittance rates (RC4058). Always verify with CRA or a qualified tax professional before filing.